Little Falls transcript. [volume] (Little Falls, Morrison County, Minn.) 1876-1894, 1887-03-25
WISCONSIN MURDER TRIAL.
trial Of David Allen at NeillsviIe, for tho Murder
Of Henry Wright.

1r1al OF DAVID Alton NJ No1IsV1IAe, TOP tho Murder
Of Henry Wright.
In May, 1886, Henry Wright. of tho
town OF Royal, Clark county. Wis.,, was
taken sick and died under suspicious cir
cumstances. 1t was developed that David
Allen, neighbor, had been sustaining illic-
it relations with Wright's wife. Allen and
Mrs. Wright were arrested and tried in q JUS.
iee's court, and Allen indicted for muir
der. Mrs. Wright made a full confession,
but afterward recanted. In this comics
sion the woman declared that she and
Allen had agreed to kill both Mr.. Wright
and Aliens wife by poison, and that she
and Allen poisoned Wright by putting
stry chnine in his tea. It was said at the
time that Mrs. Alien, who for weeks had been
confined to her bed by some mysterious
Illness, speedily regained her health alter
her husband had been consigned to Jail.
At the trial at Neillsville, ono Derby, q
neighbor OF Wright's testified: Intimacy
existed between the families OF Wright and
Allen. Allen was continuously in attend
ance upon Wright in his illness and ap-
peared to purposely avoid any one else
who came to wait upon Wright.
DR.. w. S. Hanes, the analytic chemist, of
Chicago, who analysed the stomach of Hen
~ Wright, testified to the presence or ar.
senic in Wright's stomach.
Margaret Wright, widow OF the deceased
was called by the state. Counsel for tho
defense objected to allowing her testifying
a. it was stated that she was an accom-
plice, and would turn states evidence ia
order to obtain immunity. The court de-
'cided to hear her testimony. She testified:
There had been criminal intercourse be-
tween herself and Allen for about year
previous to her husband 8 death, on May
3, 1886. Allen decided to get rid OF both
his wife and her husband, and that he would
then leave with the witness. He procured
stryohnine at Neillsville, but as it tasted
bad, Wright could not be induced to
drink water containing it. Allen then
went to ilwaukee in April and purchased
arsenic about two weeks before Wright's
death. Allen had her put some into cook.
ies. The deceased ate some OF them the
next morning, which caused him to be very
sick. Seeing her husband in pain, she relent.
ed. got some lobelia, stepped some and gave
him some tea. He vomited violently and
Was relieved. Allen had stated to her that
he was giving the deceased doses OF arsenic,
and had repeatedly admitted giving him
poison, She did not give any person her.
self any OF the cookies, nor did she consent
Chicago. and she would not. She told him
she would tell all, and he swore he would
hire men to swear against her. The wit
ness started for Marshfield and was arrest
ed at Loyal. She saw Allen once or twice
in Jail. Once he said he was sorry the wit
ness owned up. Monday night when she
talked with him there were three men with
her Mensrs. Woodward, Campbell and
Hill. They had correspondence In writing
and passed notes by q string.
Mrs. Wright's counsel produced letters
which the witness says she received from
Allen. The court house was crowded with
spectators.